Our Staff

Jim has been a registered lobbyist, has chaired or managed statewide initiative campaigns (No on Proposition 51 [tort reform], Yes on 112 [constitutional ethics reform] and Yes on 131 [campaign finance reform]), and has assisted drafting portions of several other initiatives. He has also been involved in the passage of and amendments to California's pioneering anti-SLAPP law, Code of Civil Procedure §425.16, and has successfully used these laws in venues throughout the state for a wide variety of clients.

In the past, Jim served as Executive Director of California Common Cause, as the Supervising Attorney for the Center for Public Interest Law, as a Fellow and Of Counsel to Public Advocates, taught First Amendment Law at San Francisco State University's Journalism Department, and was a researcher for Ralph Nader's Center for Study of Responsive Law. He also served as a Co-Chair of the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Committee, and in 1993 received the NC-SPJ's James Madison award for Pro Bono Counsel for his work and leadership on behalf of Freedom of Information. He is a 1984 graduate of Boalt Hall and a 1981 graduate of Brown University (1981).

Staff Attorney

Lynne joined ELF as Staff Attorney in February of 2006.  Her practice has included cases brought pursuant to Proposition 65, CEQA, the Clean Water Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act.  Prior to joining ELF, Lynne worked for a small private firm in San Francisco that focused on environmental and consumer protection litigation.  Prior to that, she was in private practice.  She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Golden Gate University in May of 2002, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies from the University of Minnesota. Her published work includes “Legal Introduction: Private Enforcement of Tobacco Laws Using California’s Business and Professions Code Section 17200”, which she co-authored with Jim Wheaton for the Technical Legal Assistance Center of the Public Health Institute.

Research Director

As Research Director for ELF, Alise investigates occupational, consumer and residential exposures to toxic chemicals. Prior to joining ELF, she worked on a broad range of public health and environmental justice issues including conflicts of interest on scientific advisory panels, fence-line community exposures to industrial chemicals, and children’s exposures to carcinogens from pharmaceuticals, baby care products and pressure treated wood. Alise began her career in toxics as the Research Director for a law firm representing injured chemical industry workers in Louisiana and East Texas (Cancer Alley). Her work researching the PVC plastics industry led to the expose' films “Trade Secrets,” Bill Moyers’ PBS documentary on the chemical industry, and “Blue Vinyl,” an award winning HBO documentary questioning the ecological and human health costs associated with the manufacture of PVC plastic. Alise received her B.A. in the Humanities and Social Thought Concentration from the Louisiana Scholars’ College in 1994.

Operations Director/Legal Administrator

Nicole Feliciano graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology in 2005.  her quest for a socially rewarding way to earn a living led her to ELF.  After three years working for a private law firm, Nicole is happy to support an organization committed to Environmental and Social Justice.

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